Former real estate broker sentenced to 37 months for fraud

A local real estate broken was sentenced Thursday to 37 months in prison on multiple fraud charges.

Jerrick Hawkins, 28, of St. Louis, created a scheme to defraud lenders by submitting false information on real estate loan applications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Borrowers on those loans ended up failing to make payments, resulting in financial institutions losing out on $2 million. Jerrick was also ordered to pay restitution of $2.4 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Hawkins convinced individuals to provide false income information and false employment information when applying for conventional and FHA loans to purchase property throughout the St. Louis area. Hawkins concealed the fraud by falsifying W-2s and pay stubs.

He pleaded guilty in January to one felony count of bank fraud and two felony counts of making false statements.